Find a Job You Really Want In
We all have that coworker who drives us up the wall. Whether they inundate your inbox with unnecessary emails or always seem to have “one more question” during meetings that could have been an email, their behavior can make a workday feel unbearable. In extreme cases, such frustrations might make you reconsider your career path.
To shed light on this issue, we surveyed over 1,200 American workers to identify the coworker behaviors that annoy them the most, as well as regional variations in these annoyances. Read on to discover the most irritating workplace behaviors and how many workers have left their jobs due to intolerable coworkers.
Quick Facts
Other Interesting Findings
- After loud coworkers, the next most annoying behaviors are office gossip and lack of productivity.
- More than half of workers (56%) have reported an annoying coworker to a manager or HR.
- A staggering 92% of employees have at least one coworker that irritates them.
- The typical number of annoying coworkers is between 2 and 5.
- Most states (33 to be exact) find loud coworkers the most exasperating.
- Four states—Maine, Nevada, Nebraska, and Hawaii—are particularly frustrated with laziness.
- Interestingly, New Hampshire stands out as the only state that finds know-it-all attitudes the most aggravating.
Most Annoying Coworker Behaviors
The chart highlights that loudness, office gossip, and laziness are among the top three irritating workplace behaviors.
It’s important to note that annoyance can stem from various aspects of work life, from attire choices to lunch preferences. If you’re not perceived as too loud (86% find that annoying), you might be too quiet, which bothers 7% of employees.
While companies may not be able to ban microwaved fish, HR can implement policies regarding meeting protocols and workload sharing during absences to foster better coworker relationships.
Other Common Annoying Behaviors
- Rudeness or disrespect
- Smoking
- Dishonesty
- Excessive social media use
- Talking about personal life, such as children
- Making personal calls at work
- Being unresponsive
Some uncommon but peculiar responses included being bad with technology, using excessive jargon, and even promiscuity.
How Many Annoying Coworkers Do You Have?
A significant 92% of workers report having one or more annoying coworkers, with the most common number being 2 to 5. However, a particularly unlucky 5% have 10 or more annoying coworkers.
If you find yourself needing more than two hands to count the coworkers you dislike, it might be time to explore new job opportunities.
METHODOLOGY
This study was conducted by Zippia, a career resource website, with a sample of 1,210 workers across the United States to gain insights into negative coworker interactions.
Each participant answered a consistent set of questions about their perceptions of coworker behaviors. Vermont was excluded from the sample due to insufficient size.
The survey took place in February and March 2021, utilizing Amazon’s Mechanical Turk survey platform.
Soundproof Headphones Anyone?
With 86% of respondents expressing frustration over loud coworkers, it’s clear that this issue is widespread.
The cost of these annoyances is significant; 29% of employees have left a job because of irritating coworkers. Businesses can enhance employee satisfaction and reduce turnover by investing in soundproofing and creating designated areas for collaborative and independent work.
Moreover, organizations should embrace the flexible work model. Allowing employees to choose between remote work or office environments can help them manage their workspace’s noise level and enhance productivity.
Imagine the time saved when employees don’t have to crank up their headphones to drown out the chatter or humming from nearby colleagues.
What Each State Says Is The Most Annoying Behavior In A Coworker
| State | Most Annoying Behavior |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Too Loud |
| Alaska | Too Loud |
| Arizona | Too Loud |
| Arkansas | Too Loud |
| California | Too Loud |
| Colorado | Too Loud |
| Connecticut | Too Loud |
| Delaware | Gossip |
| Florida | Too Loud |
| Georgia | Too Loud |
| Hawaii | Laziness |
| Idaho | Frequent Absences |
| Illinois | Too Loud |
| Indiana | Too Loud |
| Iowa | Negative/pessimist |
| Kansas | Too Loud |
| Kentucky | Bad at their job |
| Louisiana | Tardiness |
| Maine | Laziness |
| Maryland | Too Loud |
| Massachusetts | Too Loud |
| Michigan | Too Loud |
| Minnesota | Bad at their job |
| Mississippi | Too Loud |
| Missouri | Too Loud |
| Montana | Tardiness |
| Nebraska | Laziness |
| Nevada | Laziness |
| New Hampshire | Know it all/other smug behavior |
| New Jersey | Too Loud |
| New Mexico | Too Loud |
| New York | Too Loud |
| North Carolina | Too Loud |
| North Dakota | Negative/pessimist |
| Ohio | Too Loud |
| Oklahoma | Tardiness |
| Oregon | Too Loud |
| Pennsylvania | Too Loud |
| Rhode Island | Tardiness |
| South Carolina | Too Loud |
| South Dakota | Too Loud |
| Tennessee | Too Loud |
| Texas | Too Loud |
| Utah | Too Loud |
| Virginia | Too Loud |
| Washington | Gossip |
| West Virginia | Too Loud |
| Wisconsin | Too Loud |
| Wyoming | Too Loud |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
